Operation Mars, or 2nd Rzhev-Sychevka Offensive was a World War II strategic offensive launched in November-December of 1942 by Soviet forces against a German salient in the vicinity of Moscow. It was a major episode in a series of nearly fruitless assaults (Rzhev Battles) in the directions of Rzhev, Sychevka and Vyazma carried out from January 1942 to March 1943, known as "Rzhev meat grinder" ("Ржевская мясорубка") for its huge losses.

Operation Mars was a joint operation of the Soviet Western Front and Kalinin Front coordinated by Georgy Zhukov.

Operation Mars is virtually unknown, largely due to Soviet efforts to expunge this disastrous defeat from historical accounts of Eastern Front fighting, although there is an opinion (put forth by American historian David Glantz) that in fact it was a more important offensive in STAVKA planning than the near-simulataneous Operation Uranus. This opinion is contested by claims that persistent attacks notwithstanding the mounting losses had the goal to tie the Army Group Center against possible reinforcement of the Army Group South at Stalingrad.

Casualties

• Soviet: 500,000 men, 1705 tanks (Glantz). Archives of the Ministry of Defence of Russia quote 70,400 men and 1,366 tanks.
• German: 40,000 men

References

• Glantz, David M. Zhukov's Greatest Defeat: The Red Army's Epic Disaster in Operation Mars, 1942 (1999). ISBN 070060944X.

External link

• Operation Mars (November-December 1942): Marshal Zhukov's Greatest Defeat (http://www.battlefield.ru/library/battles/battle12_04.html)